LONDON (Reuters) - Jose Mourinho's remark about wanting to "kill" former club Chelsea in next season's Champions League was made with his tongue firmly in his cheek.

"(I meant kill) in a good way, funny way," he said in a text message sent to Sky Sports television.

"I told them (Chelsea) I love them and want them to succeed but if play them one day...I want to win."

The Portuguese coach, without a club since leaving Stamford Bridge in September, made it clear on Thursday he still had a lot of affection for the west London side but there would be no room for sentiment if they met as opponents.

"I hope to play them next season in the Champions League," Mourinho said at a sponsored event in Valencia.

"If I play them in the Champions League, I want to go there and kill them, that's my message."

Asked about his Chelsea successor Avram Grant, Mourinho said: "I feel nothing for him. I feel everything for the club but not for him personally.

"I still feel Chelsea is a part of me, I'll have Chelsea in my heart forever.

"I left and for five months you couldn't get a bad word from me in relation to the club and you cannot do it in the future too."

Grant refused to get involved in a war of words with Mourinho on Friday.

"I'm not a man of fighting, the only fight I know is on the pitch," the Israeli coach told the west London club's Web site (www.chelseafc.com) on the eve of the FA Cup quarter-final at Barnsley.

"I will fight for my team and do everything for my club. I have a lot of respect for Jose but I need to concentrate only on my club."

Mourinho steered Chelsea to two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and two League Cups after joining in 2004.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)